I have listed a small but rather interesting group of Jewish merchant tokens issued in Cairo, Egypt after WW I in the latest edition of "Unusual World Coins". They consist of imitations of Spanish and Spanish colonial silver 2 and 8 reales coins. Most likely these were advertising pieces and enjoyed some limited circulation or could end up being used as jewelry. As we know Spanish silver and especially Maria Theresa talers of Austria were very popular in trade in all of North Africa for centuries.





















The example illustrated is cast silver weighing 24.83 grams and measures 40.88 mm. The obverse portrays a very crude bust of Ferdinand VII of Spain dated 1920. The obverse legend reads: • FERDIN • VII • - DEI • GRATIA •. The reverse has a very stylized crowned arms between pillars with rather unusual banners. The reverse legend reads: • CAIRO . SAGA - SAAD. MEAWAD • with "28" below the arms.